“Listen, stay alert, stand tall in the faith, be courageous, and be strong. Let love prevail in your life, words, and actions.” – Some closing encouragements from the Apostle Paul’s first Epistle to the church at Corinth… And a perspective that is still just as important for us to follow today…

So very often we miss (at best) or choose to ignore the beauty and grace that surrounds us… This Christmas I pray that we all experience the wonder of the Gift we celebrate, and see that His love and majesty is in each and every one of us.

“The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”

But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”” – John 2:1-5 (NLT)

As I prayed over these verses the other morning, it dawned on me how often in my daily life I resemble Mary in this passage; insistent in my desire that things happen on my timing, instead of looking to God for His direction to be revealed in the proper moment.

Heavenly Father,

Today I pray that You grant me the patience to seek Your will in Your time… That I’m able to see through the clouds of my earthly situations, and draw comfort from the knowledge that Your promise to never leave me nor forsake me hasn’t changed simply because You didn’t show up when or how I expected.For it’s in Your precious name I pray Jesus…

Hi, I’m Phil Malmstrom, a.k.a. Phather Phil. I’m a self-employed, blissfully married father of two wonderful little boys, an ordained minister who delights in spreading Jesus’ Message of Hope and Love, a science-fiction junkie, an aspiring photographer and above all that one of God’s Children who rejoices in His Blessings each day.